Michigan

Esquire magazine ranks Eastown's Yesterdog among 'places men eat'

Emily Zoladz | The Grand Rapids PressSam Garcia, left, and Jess Bobenmoyer, both of Grand Rapids, make hot dogs during the lunch rush Friday at Yesterdog in Eastown. The popular hot dog joint will be featured in Esquire magazine as a place where men eat. GRAND RAPIDS -- There's a pretty good crowd of women at Yesterdog on an average night, but Esquire magazine singles the Eastown hot dog institution as particularly manly in its April issue, due to hit newsstands Tuesday.

In a feature headlined "Eat Like a Man" the magazine lists Yesterdog among great spots around the country "Where Men Eat." It is the only Michigan restaurant (besides the Steak 'N' Shake chain) featured on the list.

Of Yesterdog, 1505 Wealthy St. SE, the writers say: "There's nothing lovingly crafted or thoughtfully reimagined about their hot dogs.

"They're boiled, bunned, and topped with kraut, pickles, cheese, or spicy chili (or some combination of all four) before they're delivered to the counter in batches of thirty and divvied up on cafeteria trays.

"That's all there is to it, and it's magnificent."

Robert Dorment, the magazine's features editor, said he got to know Yesterdog while visiting his in-laws. His wife, Genevieve, grew up in East Grand Rapids.

"We were after that intangible quality that men find attractive, which is unpretentiousness with a premium put on food rather than affectation," Dorment said.